We all have crap. Some people have health crap. Some people have job crap. Some people have family crap. No one’s crap is any better or any worse than anyone else’s crap…it’s just different crap.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking…reflecting, even. I went back and read over my resolutions for the year:

I want to visit Omaha. Done. I have the check stub for BC’s $150 speeding ticket in Wyoming as proof.I want to say NO more often. This one is still a work in progress.I want to say YES more often. This was in reference to my kids. I need to ask them about this.I want to yell less and laugh more. Epic fail.I want to DO more and worry less. Fail. I want to take more naps. I think I’ve done OK on this one.And, I want to stop buying diapers for the first time since 2000. I don’t dare say it aloud, but we haven’t used a diaper since last Wednesday. Could this be the end of an era???

Yeah…I did it again. I posted a picture of a kid on the toilet. The comments and emails telling me I was a horrible parent who better start saving for therapy last time obviously had no effect on my cold shriveled heart. So, don’t waste your energy this time.

I’ve let people down. I’ve said I’d do things for people when I really should have said no.

I’m sorry.

I’m monumentally behind on emails.

I’m sorry.

The reality is that something’s gotta give.

I’m working on it.

I’m not sure what the point of this post is, but I feel like I owe you all an explanation for the lack of creative awesomeness going on ‘round these parts.

I’m grateful for all the usuals (family, friends, health, Diet Coke), but I’m also thankful for YOU. Blogging has introduced me to so, so, SO many people that I needed in my life. Some make me laugh until I can’t breathe. Some inspire with kind words in an email on days I’m ready to throw in the towel. Some make me want to be better and do more. Thank you for touching my life.

Want 40% off instead? Use code “CRAP”. This means the new starter kits can be yours for $24 instead of $40. Nice!

Want a deal on a Cameo? (I’m not sure what it is yet, but I’ve been promised it’s GOOD!) You’ll need the secret link (go ahead and click now if you wanna, there just won’t be anything to buy until Friday) and code “CRAP”.

The Silhouette Black Friday deals run Friday through Monday. The Cameo is expected to sell out, so don’t wait if you need one under your tree. I picked up some replacement blades last year because this sale is the best deal you’ll see all year. This year? I’ve got fabric inks on my list.

IF YOU’RE HERE TO ENTER TO WIN A CAMEO, IT’S ONE POST DOWN. (And this would TOTALLY be a great first project for it!)

You’ve seen the fabulous pillows made from feed sacks all over the internet, right? Pottery Barn had some made from coffee bags, even. I love them, but I don’t happen to have an abundance of feed sacks sitting around. OK, I don’t have any feed sacks sitting around and I don’t know where to get them either. So, I came up with this project to satisfy my love of the feed sack. Desperation is the mother of invention, right? And, this tutorial *might* even be better than the real deal because you can totally personalize a faux sack. What are the odds that you’d find an actual feed bag with your last name (or Santa or whatever) on it? (Hint: none.)

(I went the Santa route, since I originally developed this project for the A Swell Noel series over at Positively Splendid, but this technique would work for any image/lettering.)

SUPPLIES:

Canvas drop cloth, from the paint section. You can get a 6’ X 9’ one for around $10. That’d make A LOT of pillows.
Contact paper, vinyl, or freezer paper. I used contact paper because it’s cheap and can easily be fed through my Silhouette.
Silkscreen ink. I like Simply Screen by Plaid.
Sandpaper

HOW TO:

Cut your design or lettering out of your contact paper (or vinyl or freezer paper). I used a Santa silhouette from the Silhouette download store and then cut it with my Silhouette (on vinyl settings but slowed down to a speed of 5 and a depth of 7). You could easily do this with a craft knife as well.

Apply the contact paper to your drop cloth. I cut an 18” X 18” square because my pillow form was 18”.

I used that green scraper thing to get a good tight seal around the edges.

I like to stick the vinyl backing under my fabric to keep the ink from bleeding through and getting on my table.

Apply silkscreen ink with a sponge brush.

I like to use a scrap of contact paper to squirt the ink out onto.

Once the ink is dry, you can peel off the contact paper.

Then, take some sandpaper to your design.

Keep sanding until it looks old and worn and like it’s been part of the canvas forever.

The Cameo is the new and improved personal craft cutter from Silhouette. The Cameo connects to your computer allowing you to cut fonts and images in cardstock, vinyl, heat transfer material, etc. I was a HUGE fan of the Silhouette SD and I wondered just how much better the Cameo could be. The answer: WAY WAY WAY better. In addition to the bigger cutting area, it’s quieter. The blade adjustment is easier and you don’t have to worry about losing the little caps. Your media loads SO much easier and there’s a pause button. The display is lighted, in case you like to craft in the dark.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

One lucky Crap I’ve Made reader will win her (or his) very own Cameo!

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

“Like” Silhouette on Facebook. Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST (on the blog, not on Facebook or in response to your email subscription) saying that you did.

Giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and over only and closes Tuesday, November 22nd at 10pm MST. Winner will be chosen at random using a WordPress Plugin (And The Winner Is…) and notified by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

So, I may or may not be at jury duty right now. I’ve got free crap to keep you entertained whilst I’m dealing with that. Today I have a copy of 101 Tees by Cathie Fillian. Tomorrow? It’ll blow your ever loving mind. Promise.

This is a super fun book in which Cathie shows you 101 ways to refashion, makeover, and improve your standard boring run of the mill t-shirt.

AND, because everyone can’t be a winner (no matter what your mom told you), I’ve got a fun freebie for EVERYONE. The nice folks at Lark Books has provided a PDF on how you can make your own “Tattered Chic T”!

Leave a comment ON THIS POST (not on Facebook or in response to your email subscription) telling me about your favorite tee. Where did it come from? What color is it? Have you made any “improvements”?

1 entry per person, please.

This book was sent to me by Lark Crafts. I’m footing the bill for the postage. Giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and over only and closes Monday, November 21st at 10pm MST. Winner will be chosen at random using a WordPress Plugin (And The Winner Is…) and notified by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

So, I may or may not be at jury duty right now. I’ve got free crap to keep you entertained whilst I’m dealing with that. Today I don’t have meat, but I do have a signed copy of Fresh Fabric Treats:

My copy was signed by Vanessa Christenson of V & Co (she uses the word “crap” twice), Natalia Bonner of Piece N Quilt and Kimberly Walus of bitty bits & pieces. It was purchased with my own money for the benefit of my bloggy readers.

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment saying what the last thing you sewed was.

1 entry per person, please.

Giveaway closes Sunday night at 10pm MST and is open to US residents age 18 and over only. Winner will be chosen at random using a WordPress Plugin (And The Winner Is…) and notified by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

The busiest people in the community—moms—are often the most plugged-in. And for them, the Internet is often the best tool to (re)discover what’s in their own backyard. Plum District was created just for them. Plum District connects moms with daily deals and inspirations from businesses in their community, and helps them get the most out of their day—for their families and for themselves.

In addition to fabulous local deals in almost 50 major metropolitan areas (and growing), they offer EVERYWHERE DEALS that can be enjoyed by anyone. Like today, for example, they’re offering an INSANE deal on Omaha Steaks.

Guess what else? I get to give one of those Omaha Steaks packages ($168.99 retail value) away! Details/specifics/restrictions on the package I’m giving away are available HERE.

TO ENTER:

Head on over to Plum District. Have a look around. Come back and leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite deal is…THAT’S IT. Easy peasy, right? One entry per person, no hoops to jump through. Hot dog! (More like 8 of them in your Omaha Steaks pack…ha!)

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If you’re a Salt Lake area local and want to keep up on local deals, you can find Plum District of Salt Lake on Facebook here.

Plum District also has a new “Give Back” program where Plum District gives 10% back to local non-profits and schools. You can email my pal Michelle at michelle.peterson@plumdistrict.net if you’re interested. (We really are pals…we were student body officers together in high school. I suspect she has A LOT of embarrassing pictures of me.) If you are on the PTA board and are interested in something like that for your local school or non-profit, Michelle can set you up (even if you’re not in UT).

Giveaway closes Friday, November 18th at 10pm MST. Winner must have an address that meets the requirements listed in the link above. Giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and over only. Winner will be chosen at random using a WordPress Plugin (And The Winner Is…) and notified by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

TOTALLY FORGOT TO MENTION: You can save 10% on the Omaha Steaks deal by using code “fabulous” at check out. Go nuts!

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Feel free to link to or feature (no more than one image, please) any tutorials on this site, as long as credit is given. Tutorials are for personal (non-commercial) use only. For more information, see the details of my copyright way down at the bottom of the page!